Ukraine Daily

Sunday, August 28

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Russia’s war against Ukraine

A couple awaits evacuation from the severely damaged city of Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, on Aug. 26, 2022. (Stas Yurchenko / The Kyiv Independent)

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UK intelligence: Russia likely increased efforts in Donbas, but secures few territorial gains. The U.K. Defense Ministry said in its latest update that the increase is likely an attempt “to draw in or fix additional Ukrainian units,” amid speculation Ukraine is planning a major counter-offensive. “Pro-Russian separatist militia” have also probably made some progress towards the center of Pisky village, not far from the Donetsk Airport, the update said. “However, overall, Russian forces have secured few territorial gains,” it wrote.

Ukrainian intelligence: Autumn to be ‘decisive period’ of war. Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate, told the RBK Ukraine news outlet that while hostilities may not be as active in winter, the period will still be difficult. “We hope the measures we are planning will be successful. And we will disrupt Russia’s plans regarding further occupation and the Donetsk region,” Skibitskyi said, as quoted by RBK Ukraine.

ISW: Russia has exhausted recruitment pool of peripheral and disenfranchised regions, may turn to central Russia. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia cannot continue recruitment efforts in peripheral regions and may have to depend on central Russia for further recruits. The U.S. think tank also reported that Russia’s 3rd Army Corps have been deployed but is “unlikely to generate effective combat power.”

Ukrainian intelligence: Russia has no more than 45% of its missiles left. Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate, told the RBK Ukraine news outlet that according to their estimations, Russia currently has “no more than 45% of the missiles it had before the start of the war.” Skibitskyi also said that Russia has a “difficult situation” with its Kalibr missiles and only “about 20% or even less” of its Iskander ballistic missiles left.

Russian collaborator found hanged in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Andrii Ryzhkov, a Russian collaborator and former Ukrainian border guard, was found hanged in temporarily occupied Mykhailivka on Aug. 27, reports Ukrinform, citing the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration. Ryzhkov was installed by Russia as the city’s so-called “police chief.” No further information was provided.

Ukrainian intelligence: Russia has involved at least 160,000 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Vadym Skybytsky, a representative of Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate, said that the number does not include Russian national guard members, who are tasked with holding Russian-occupied regions. He also added that Russia plans to mobilize an additional 90,000 military personnel to fight against Ukraine.

Ukrainian intelligence: Russia decides to hide ‘explosions’ in Crimea to stop Russians from leaving. According to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate, the Russian government ordered possible explosions at military facilities in Crimea to be kept secret. Thousands of Russians have been reportedly fleeing Crimea after some military sites and ammunition depots suffered from explosions of unclear nature in August. While the Ukrainian military didn’t officially claim responsibility for these incidents, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said that explosions in Crimea “will continue.”

Ukrainian sailors allowed to leave country for work. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Aug. 27 that men of draft age who are employed as crew members at sea and river ships will be allowed to go abroad to get to their places of work. The same rules apply to students (cadets) who have to undergo shipboard practical training. Sailors will have to get a permission to cross the border from their local conscription offices.

Russian attacks have destroyed 10,000 civilian sites in Mykolaiv Oblast. According to the Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, the destroyed sites include 6,466 houses and apartment buildings, 331 educational institutions, 117 industrial enterprises, and 67 medical facilities.

Read our exclusives

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has relied on foreign partners when it comes to space intelligence. Ukraine doesn’t have its own satellites in orbit. That is why it requests satellite imagery from its allies in order to track Russian troop movements and document Russia’s alleged war crimes. But that is about to change. Read our story here.

PHOTOS: People forced to flee Donetsk Oblast as Russia bombards region nonstop.

The human cost of Russia’s war

Russian attacks kill 2 civilians in Donetsk Oblast on Aug. 26. The people were killed in Bakhmut, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Twelve more people were injured in Donetsk Oblast that day, Kyrylenko said.

Official: 1 person killed, 1 injured in Kharkiv Oblast as a result of Russia’s shelling on Aug 27. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that a 52-year-old woman was killed in the village of Zolochiv, and a 49-year-old man was injured in the village of Donets. “The enemy continues to terrorize civilians in Kharkiv Oblast,” Syniehubov said.

Russia has returned bodies of 541 fallen Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine. Oleg Kotenko, Ukraine’s commissioner for missing persons in special circumstances, said that 428 bodies were brought from Mariupol, of which more than 300 were defenders of Azovstal.

General Staff: Russia has lost 46,500 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Aug. 26 that Russia had also lost 1,939 tanks, 4,254 armored fighting vehicles, 3,165 vehicles and fuel tanks, 1,045 artillery systems, 274 multiple launch rocket systems, 148 air defense systems, 202 helicopters, 234 airplanes, 836 drones, and 15 boats.

International response

UK to send 6 undersea minehunter drones to Ukraine to help clear coastline. The U.K. Defense Ministry announced on Aug. 27 that the Royal Navy and its U.S. partners will teach dozens of Ukrainian personnel to use the autonomous minehunting vehicles over the coming months.

Dell ceases all operations within Russia. On Aug. 27, Dell Technologies announced that it will make a full withdrawal from Russia after closing its offices in mid-August. Dell was a major supplier of servers in Russia. In February, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the American company halted all services and sales but maintained a presence within the country.

Bloomberg: France, Germany don’t support EU-wide entry ban for Russian tourists. According to Bloomberg, both countries said the European Union should continue to issue visas to Russians with no ties to the government, such as students, artists, scholars, and professionals. “We should not underestimate the transformative power of experiencing life in democratic systems first-hand, especially for future generations,” reads the joint document viewed by Bloomberg ahead of the EU foreign ministers meeting in Prague on Aug. 31.

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